White Island (Ross Archipelago) facts for kids
White Island from Ross Sea
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Location in Antarctica
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Geography | |
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Location | Antarctica |
Coordinates | 78°8′S 167°24′E / 78.133°S 167.400°E |
Archipelago | Ross Archipelago |
Administration | |
Administered under the Antarctic Treaty System | |
Demographics | |
Population | Uninhabited |
White Island is an island in the Ross Archipelago of Antarctica. It is 28 km (15 nmi) long, protruding through the Ross Ice Shelf immediately east of Black Island. It was discovered by the Discovery Expedition (1901–04) and so named by them because of the mantle of snow which covers it. Some 142 km2 of shelf ice adjoining the north-west coast of the island has been designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 137) because it supports an isolated small breeding population of Weddell seals.
White Island consists of two Pleistocene shield volcanoes overlain by volcanic cones. The last known eruption occurred 0.17 million years ago.
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White Island (Ross Archipelago) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.